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Publication - Research and analysis

Short Life Working Group on Facilitating Peaceful Assemblies: report

Published
2 November 2022
Directorate
Justice Directorate, +4 more … Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate, Legal Services (Solicitor to the Scottish Government), Local Government and Housing Directorate, Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Communities and third sector, Equality and rights, Public safety and emergencies
ISBN
9781804358184

The Short Life Working Group on Peaceful Processions in Scotland has reviewed processions in Scotland. The report uses the comparison between Northern Ireland and Scotland as a basis to discuss how well the legislative framework and related processes are working in Scotland.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Meetings

Meeting No. Purpose/type of meeting/event Group members in attendance Guests in attendance
1
  • Introductory meeting to discuss the task and consider the way forward.
Full Working Group and secretariat None
2
  • Business planning meeting.
Full Working Group and secretariat None
3
  • Evidence gathering session focussing on previous work commissioned by the Scottish Government on marches, parades and static demonstrations.
Full Working Group and secretariat Dr Michael Rosie
4a
4b
  • Evidence gathering session with Police Scotland considering the organising and running of marches and parades from their perspective.
Full Working Group and secretariat Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland; Superintendent Emma Croft Abdul Rahim; Sam Tedcastle
  • Evidence gathering session with the Centre for Good Relations considering the role of mediation and dialogue in delivering peaceful marches, parades and demonstrations, and the current work the CfGR is involved in.
5
  • Discussion on the Working Group's proposals for taking forward their task and develop understanding of the issues from the perspective of Scottish Government ministers.
Full Working Group and secretariat Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans; Scottish Government officials
6
  • Evidence gathering session to discuss the role that mediation and dialogue has played in the organising and running of marches, parades and demonstrations in Northern Ireland.
Full Working Group and secretariat Brendan McAllister; Abdul Rahim; Sam Tedcastle
7
  • Evidence gathering session with officials from Glasgow City Council to discuss the organising and running of marches, parades and static demonstrations from their perspective.
Full Working Group and secretariat Mairi Miller; Gordon Fulton
8
  • Business planning meeting to take stock of evidence gathered to date and identify further evidence sessions and next steps.
Full Working Group and secretariat None
9
  • Evidence gathering session with COSLA, meeting elected members to discuss the organising and running of marches and parades and static demonstrations from their perspective.
Full Working Group and secretariat Cllrs: Kelly Parry, Laura Murtagh, Stephen Curran, Arthur Spurling, Angela Campbell, Annette Christie and Jim McMahon and COSLA officials Anil Gupta and Elisa Bevacqua
10
  • Business planning meeting to take stock of evidence gathered to date and identify further evidence sessions and next steps.
Full Working Group and secretariat None
--
  • Observation of March – District 37 – silent counter protest
  • Police briefing
Full Working Group N/A
11
  • To hear from the Orange Order about their experiences of organising and running marches and parades
Full Working Group and secretariat Jim McHarg, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland Ian McNeil, Executive Officer
12
  • For Cllr Aitken to provide an overview of marches and parades notification process in Glasgow.
Full Working Group and secretariat Cllr Susan Aitken
13
  • Business Meeting
Full Working Group and secretariat None
14a
14b
  • Evidence gathering on the Parades Commission system in Northern Ireland
Meetings in Belfast:
  • Former Parades Commission Chair; Sinn Fein; Norther Ireland Parades Commission; Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.
Full Working Group and Secretariat Peter Osborne Sean Murray Norther Ireland Parades Commission Mervyn Gibson
15 Meetings in Derry:
  • Apprentice Boys of Derry; Londonderry Bands Forum; Bogside Residents; Derry Model, Conflict, Transformation and Peacebuilding Project.
Full Working Group and Secretariat Billy Moore Kenny McFarlane, Derek Moore, Brian Docherty, Steven Tolgrath, Donnacha McNiallias, and Maeve McLaughlin.
16
  • Evidence gathering of processes across Scotland via meeting with COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities)
Full Working Group and secretariat Gordon Fulton Mairi Miller Gerry Mahon Paul Guidi Richard Llewellyn Andrew Mitchell Michael Grenwell Claire Ferguson Elisa Bevacqua Graeme MacKenzie Geraldine McCann Michael Elsey Raymond Lynch
17
  • Business Meeting
Full Working Group and secretariat None
18 a b Evidence gathering on experiences of the marches and parades processes:
  • Meeting Call it Out and BEMIS
  • Meeting Nil by Mouth and Sense Over Sectarianism
Full Working Group and secretariat Janette Findlay and Tanveer Parnez. Dave Scott and Mark Adams
19
  • Evidence gathering from the experience of Police Scotland
Full Working Group and secretariat Will Kerr and Mark Sutherland
20a b
  • Meeting with Centre for Good Relations to discuss civic mediation and community impact.
  • Evidence gathering from the Apprentice Boys of Derry about their experiences with the notification process.
Full Working Group and secretariat Sam Tedcastle, Abdul Rahim and Mike Waite. Keith Rutherford and Alistair Skene.
21
  • Business Meeting
Full Working Group and secretariat None
--
  • Observation of Orange Order Jubilee Parade in Edinburgh
Lorraine Gillies and Graham Boyack N/A
22a
22b
  • Meeting with Orange Order County Grand Masters to gather evidence of their experiences with the process in different local authority areas.
  • Meeting with Glasgow City Council to continue discussions on their experience handling the notifications process in Glasgow.
Full Working Group and secretariat Jim McHarg, Ian McNeil, Iain Hunter, Ian Brown, George Wilson, and Derek Menzies. Mairi Millar and Gordon Fulton.
23a
23b
  • Meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans to update on progress of group work.
  • Meeting with Michael Rosie to discuss his experiences in the scoping and reporting of Scotland's marches and parades processes.
Full Working Group and secretariat Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Michael Rosie
24
  • Meeting with Glasgow City Council to discuss initial thoughts of outlined recommendations linked to Council.
Full Working Group and secretariat Mairi Millar and Gordon Fulton.

Contact

Email: Community_Safety_Mailbox@gov.scot

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